Support assembly and keyboard apparatus

ABSTRACT

A support assembly including a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever hinge mounted to the support, and a repetition lever supported by the repetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and the contact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammer shank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mounted to the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-line direction of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/080,355, filed Mar. 24, 2016, which claims the benefit of priorityfrom the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-063215, filed onMar. 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are all incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a support assembly foruse in a keyboard apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Conventional acoustic pianos such as grand pianos and upright pianos aremade up by many components. Since assembling these components is verycomplex, the assembling operation takes long time. In particular, sincean action mechanism provided correspondingly to each key requires manycomponents, its assembling operation is very complex.

For example, in an action mechanism described in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2005-292361, a plurality ofcomponents act each other, and key operation by key pressing and keyreleasing is transmitted to a hammer. In particular, a support assemblyconfiguring part of the action mechanism operates with variouscomponents assembled together. The support assembly has not only amechanism which achieves string hammering by the hammer in accordancewith key pressing but also an escapement mechanism for releasing a forcetransmitted to the hammer by key operation immediately before stringhammering. This mechanism is an important mechanism for achieving basicoperation of the acoustic piano. In particular, in a grand piano, adouble escapement mechanism having a repetition lever and a jackcombined together is generally adopted.

The operation of the action mechanism provides a sense (hereinafterreferred to as a touch feeling) to a finger of a player through a key.In particular, the structure of the support assembly provides animportant influence on the touch feeling. For example, the touch feelingby the operation of the escapement mechanism is called let-off.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present invention, a support assemblyincluding a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, arepetition lever hinge mounted to the support, and a repetition leversupported by the repetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed withrespect to the support, wherein the repetition lever has a contactsurface and the contact surface contacts a hammer shank roller providedto a hammer shank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hingeis mounted to the support in a mounting direction that crosses with atangent-line direction of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller atthe contact between the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a keyboardapparatus including a plurality of support assemblies, a keys disposedcorrespondingly to the respective support assembly, and a sound emissionmechanism adapted to emit sound in accordance with the key pressing,wherein each of the support assemblies includes, a support rotatablydisposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever hinge mounted tothe support, and a repetition lever supported by the repetition leverhinge and rotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein therepetition lever has a contact surface and the contact surface contactsa hammer shank roller provided to a hammer shank for rotating a hammer,and the repetition lever hinge is mounted to the support in a mountingdirection that crosses with a tangent-line direction of a line tangentto the hammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shankroller and the contact surface.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repetitionlever hinge may be tilted in a direction parallel to a direction of aforce of the hammer shank roller acting on the repetition lever.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coupling portionof the repetition lever hinge coupled to the repetition lever may betilted to a rotation center side of the support from one end on thesupport side.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repetitionlever hinge may be tilted with respect to the direction of the tangentline of the point of contact where the hammer shank roller makes contactwith the repetition lever.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repetitionlever and the repetition lever hinge may be integrally molded.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repetitionlever and the repetition lever hinge may include a resin-made structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view depicting the structure of a keyboard apparatus inone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view depicting the structure of a support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3D is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3E is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3F is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3G is a side view depicting a partial structure of the disassembledsupport assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view describing a relation between the tilt of arepetition lever hinge and a repetition lever according to the supportassembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view depicting the structure of the support assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting the structure of a sound emissionmechanism of the keyboard apparatus according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view depicting the structure of a keyboard apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view depicting the structure of the support assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side view depicting the structure of the support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 . . . keyboard apparatus, 2 . . . keyboard apparatus, 20 . . . supportassembly, 210 . . . support, 2105 . . . jack support portion, 2109 . . .through hole, 212 . . . support heel, 216 . . . stopper, 218 . . .spring support portion, 220 . . . repetition lever hinge, 240 . . .repetition lever, 242 . . . spring contact portion, 244 . . . extension,2441 . . . inner portion, 2442 . . . outer portion, 2443 . . . couplingportion, 2444 . . . stopper contact portion, 250 . . . jack, 2502 . . .large jack, 2504 . . . small jack, 2505 . . . support connectingportion, 2562 . . . spring contact portion, 280 . . . torsion coilspring, 2802 . . . first arm, 2804 . . . second arm, 290 . . . supportflange, 310 . . . hammer shank, 315 . . . hammer shank roller, 320 . . .hammer, 346 . . . repetition regulating screw, 360 . . . regulatingbutton, 390 . . . shank flange, 410 . . . hammer stopper, 50 . . . soundemission mechanism, 510 . . . sensor, 520 . . . shielding plate, 550 . .. signal converting unit, 560 . . . sound source unit, 570 . . . outputunit, 60 . . . support assembly, 610 . . . support, 6105 . . . jacksupport unit, 612 . . . support heel, 620 . . . repetition lever hinge,632 . . . fixing unit, 638 . . . base, 640 . . . repetition lever, 644 .. . extension, 6442 . . . slit, 6444 . . . slit, 650 . . . jack, 6502 .. . large jack, 6504 . . . small jack, 660 . . . operation regulatingunit, 662 . . . support unit, 664 . . . stopper, 666 . . . guide, 674 .. . fixture, 682 . . . coil spring, 684 . . . coil spring, 900 . . .bracket, 910 . . . balance rail, 920 . . . support rail, 930 . . . shankrail, 940 . . . hammer stopper rail, 950 . . . sensor rail, 960 . . .support rail.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, a keyboard apparatus including a support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention is described in detail withreference to the drawings. Embodiments described below are merelyexamples of embodiments of the present invention, and the presentinvention should not be interpreted to be restricted to theseembodiments. Note that, in the drawings referred to in the presentembodiments, identical portions or portions having a similar functionare provided with a same sign or similar sign (sign with a numeralmerely followed by “a”, “b”, or the like), and repetitive descriptionthereof may be omitted. Also, for convenience of description, thedimensional ratios in the drawings (such as ratios between respectivestructures, or length ratios) may differ from actual ratios, and partsof the structure may be omitted from the drawings.

A support assembly of a keyboard apparatus has many components, andtherefore the manufacturing time is prolonged, and manufacturing costsare high. Therefore, to reduce manufacturing costs, it is desirable todecrease the number of components and simplify the structure. However,if the structure of the support assembly is changed, the touch feelingat the time of key operation is greatly changed. Therefore, it isdifficult to decrease the expense of manufacturing an acoustic piano.

One object of the embodiments of the present invention is to reducemanufacturing costs of a support assembly while decreasing a change intouch feeling at the time of key operation, compared with a keyboardapparatus of an acoustic piano. Also, one object of the embodiments ofthe present invention is to improve structural stability of the supportassembly while simplifying the structure.

First Embodiment 1-1. Structure of Keyboard Apparatus 1

A keyboard apparatus 1 in one embodiment of the present invention is anexample obtained by applying one example of the support assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present invention to an electronicpiano. To obtain a touch feeling close to a grand piano at the time ofkey operation, this electronic piano includes a structure similar to asupport assembly included in the grand piano. By using FIG. 1, a generaloutline of the keyboard apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is described.

FIG. 1 is a side view depicting a mechanical structure of the keyboardapparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Asdepicted in FIG. 1, the keyboard apparatus 1 according to one embodimentof the present invention includes a plurality of keys 110 (in thisexample, eighty-eight keys) and an action mechanism corresponding toeach of the keys 110. The action mechanism includes a support assembly20, a hammer shank 310, a hammer 320, and a hammer stopper 410. Notethat while FIG. 1 depicts the case in which the keys 110 are white keys,the keys may be black keys. Also, in the following description, termsrepresenting orientations such as a player's forward side, a player'sdepth side, upward, downward, and sideward are defined as orientationswhen the keyboard apparatus is viewed from a player's side. For example,in the example of FIG. 1, the support assembly 20 is disposed on aplayer's forward side when viewed from the hammer 320, and is disposedupward when viewed from the key 110. Sideward corresponds to a directionin which the keys 110 are arranged.

The key 110 is rotatably supported by a balance rail 910. The key 110rotates in a range from a rest position depicted in FIG. 1 to an endposition. The key 110 includes a capstan screw 120. The support assembly20 is rotatably connected to a support flange 290, and is mounted on thecapstan screw 120. The support flange 290 is fixed to a support rail920. Detailed structure of the support assembly 20 will be describedfurther below. Note that the support flange 290 and the support rail 920are one example of a frame serving as a reference of rotation of thesupport assembly 20. The frame may be formed of a plurality of members,such as the support flange 290 and the support rail 920, or may beformed of one member. The frame may be, as with the support rail 920, arail-shaped member with a long side in the arrangement direction of thekeys 110, or may be, as with the support flange 290, an independentmember for each key 110.

The hammer shank 310 is rotatably connected to a shank flange 390. Thehammer shank 310 includes a hammer roller 315. The hammer shank 310 ismounted on the support assembly 20 via the hammer roller 315. The shankflange 390 is fixed to a shank rail 930. The hammer 320 is fixed to anend of the hammer shank 310. A regulating button 360 is fixed to theshank rail 930. The hammer stopper 410 is fixed to a hammer stopper rail940 to be disposed at a position of regulating rotation of the hammershank 310.

A sensor 510 is a sensor for measuring the position and moving speed(speed immediately before the hammer shank 310 collides with the hammerstopper 410) of the hammer shank 310. The sensor 510 is fixed to asensor rail 950. In this example, the sensor 510 is a photo interrupter.In accordance with the amount of shielding the optical axis of the photointerrupter by a shielding plate 520 fixed to the hammer shank 310, anoutput value from the sensor 510 is changed. Based on this output value,the position and moving speed of the hammer shank 310 can be measured.Note that a sensor for measuring an operating state of the key 110 maybe provided in place of the sensor 510 or together with the sensor 510.

The above-described support rail 920, shank rail 930, hammer stopperrail 940, and sensor rail 950 are supported by a bracket 900.

1-2. Structure of Support Assembly 20

FIG. 2 is a side view depicting the structure of the support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3G are sideviews each depicting a partial structure of the disassembled supportassembly in one embodiment of the present invention. For easyunderstanding of a feature of each component, FIG. 3A is a drawing inwhich a jack 250 and a torsion coil spring 280 are excluded from thesupport assembly 20. FIG. 3C is a drawing only depicting the jack 250.

The support assembly 20 includes a support 210, a repetition lever 240,the jack 250, and the torsion coil spring 280. The support 210 and therepetition lever 240 are coupled together via a repetition lever hinge220. In this embodiment, the hinge 220 is formed as a blade spring. Inthis example, the hinge 220 is formed integrally with the support 210and the repetition lever 240, for example out of resin material.However, the invention is not limited by this example, and the hinge 220can be of any suitable type, for example a barrel hinge or foldinghinge, or any other construction that enables a limited angle ofrotation around a rotation axis. In case of implementation of the hingein the form of multiple sections rotating around a pivot, the hinge maybe provided with an elastic element like a spring to bias the rotationalangle of the hinge towards a starting position. The hinge 220 can beimplemented in any suitable way, like being formed in one piece togetherwith the support 210 and the repetition lever 240, or being partially orwholly a separate component connected to both the support 210 and therepetition lever 240. As far as the orientation of the hinge 220 in theinitial or rest position is concerned, in the case of an embodiment inan essentially flat fashion, like a blade spring hinge or a resin filmhinge, the orientation of the hinge is determined by the plane of theflat blade or film. Conversely, hinges that are formed in an essentiallyflat way, like a straightened out folding hinge, the orientation in theinitial state is defined by a plane through the mostly flat section ofthe hinge. In case of a hinge that is essentially non-flat, like acurved blade or film hinge, the orientation of the hinge in initialcondition is defined by a plane defined by the connection portions onrespectively the support 210 and the lever 240. By the repetition leverhinge 220, the repetition lever 240 is rotatably supported with respectto the support 210. The support assembly 20, except the torsion coilspring 280 and cushioning materials (such as nonwoven fabric or elasticmaterial) provided at a portion which collides with another member, isan injection molded structure made of resin. In this example, thesupport 210 and the repetition lever 240 are integrally formed. Notethat the support 210 and the repetition lever 240 may be formed asindividual components and be attached or bonded together.

The support 210 has one end side where a through hole 2109 is formed,and has the other end side where a jack support portion 2105 is formed.Between the through hole 2109 and the jack support portion 2105, thesupport 210 includes a support heel 212 projecting downward and a springsupport portion 218 projecting upward. Through the hole 2109, a shaftsupported by the support flange 290 is drawn. With this, the support 210is rotatably disposed with respect to the support flange 290 and thesupport rail 920. The support heel 212 has its lower surface which makescontact with the above-described capstan screw 120. The sprint supportportion 218 supports the torsion coil spring 280. The jack supportportion 2105 rotatably supported the jack 250.

Between the through hole 2109 and the jack support portion 2105, a spaceSP is formed on a jack support portion 2105 side from the support heel212. For convenience of description, the support 210 is portioned intoregions: a first main body portion 2101, a bent portion 2102, and asecond main body portion 2103, from a through hole 2109 side. In thiscase, by the bent portion 2102 which couples the first main body portion2101 and the second main body portion 2103 together, the second mainbody portion 2103 is disposed on a side closer to the key 110 (downward)than the first main body portion 2101. The jack support portion 2105projects upward from the second main body portion 2103. According tothis portioning, the above-described space SP corresponds to a regioninterposed between the bent portion 2102 and the jack support portion2105 above the second main body portion 2103. Also, at an end of thesupport 210 (an end on a second main body portion 2103 side), a stopper216 couples.

To the repetition lever 240, a spring contact portion 242 and anextension 244 are coupled. The spring contact portion 242 makes contactwith a first arm 2802 of the torsion coil spring 280. The repetitionlever 240 and the extension 244 include two plate-shaped members forinterposition from sides of both side surfaces of the jack 250. In thisexample, the extension 244 and the jack 250 slidably make contact witheach other in at least part of a space interposed between these twoplate-shaped members.

The extension 244 includes an inner portion 2441, an outer portion 2442,a coupling portion 2443, and a stopper contact portion 2444. The innerportion 2441 is coupled in the repetition lever 240 on a player's depthside (repetition lever hinge 220 side) of a large jack 2502. At aportion where the inner portion 2441 and the repetition lever 240 arecoupled together, a rib 246 is provided. The inner portion 2441interposes the large jack 2502 to cross to extend to a player's forwardside (opposite side to the repetition lever hinge 220) of the large jack2502. At a portion of interposing the large jack 2502, the inner portion2441 includes a linear-shaped projecting portion P1 projecting to alarge jack 2502 side (refer to an A-A′ end face view of FIG. 3B).

The outer portion 2442 is coupled in the repetition lever 240 on aplayer's forward side (opposite side to the repetition lever hinge 220)of the jack 250 (large jack 2502). The inner portion 2441 and the outerportion 2442 are coupled together at the coupling portion 2443. Thecoupling portion 2443 interposes a small jack 2504. The stopper contactportion 2444 couples to the coupling portion 2443, and makes contactfrom below the stopper 216. According to this, a rotation range in adirection in which the repetition lever 240 and the support 210 spreadis regulated.

The jack 250 includes the large jack 2502, the small jack 2504, and aprojecting portion 256. The jack 250 is rotatably disposed with respectto the support 210. Between the large jack 2502 and the small jack 2504,a support connecting portion 2505 to be rotatably supported by the jacksupport portion 2105 is formed. The support connecting portion 2505 hasa shape surrounding part of the jack support portion 2105, and regulatesa rotation range of the jack 250. Also, with the shape of the supportconnecting portion 2505 and elastic deformation of its material, thejack 250 can fit from above the jack support portion 2105. Theprojecting portion 256 projecting from the large jack 2502 to a sideopposite to the small jack 2504, and rotates with the jack 250. Theprojecting portion 256 includes, on its side surface, a spring contactportion 2562. The spring contact portion 2562 makes contact with asecond arm 2804 of the torsion coil spring 280.

The large jack 2502 includes linear-shaped projecting portions P2projecting from both side surfaces (refer to a B-B′ end face view ofFIG. 3D). The projecting portions P2 slidably contacts the projectingportion P1 of the inner portion 2441 described above. The small jack2504 includes circular-shaped projecting portions P3 projecting fromboth side surfaces (refer to a C-C′ end face view of FIG. 3E). Theprojecting portions P3 slidably contact an inner surface of the couplingportion 2443 described above. As such, with the jack 250 and theextension 244 slidably contacting each other via the projecting portionsP1, P2, and P3, a contact area is decreased. Note that as depicted inFIG. 3F, a grease resevoir may be formed by forming a groove portion V2by a plurality of projecting portions P2. Also, as depicted in FIG. 3G,a projecting portion P2 or groove portion V2 may be formed with aside-surface shape of the large jack 2502.

In the torsion coil spring 280, the spring support portion 218 is takenas a fulcrum, the first arm 2802 makes contact with the spring contactportion 242, and the second arm 2804 makes contact with the springcontact portion 2562. The first arm 2802 functions as an elastic bodywhich provides a rotational force to the repetition lever 240 via thespring contact portion 242 so as to move a player's side of therepetition lever 240 upward (in a direction away from the support 210).The second arm 2804 functions as an elastic body which provides arotational force to the jack 250 via the spring contact portion 2562 soas to move the projecting portion 256 downward (in a direction ofapproaching the support 210).

FIG. 4 depicts a relation between the repetition lever 240 and therepetition lever hinge 220 in an initial or rest position; in thisposition the associated key is not depressed or otherwise operated. Therepetition lever 240 is coupled to the repetition lever hinge 220, andthe hinge 220 rotates around a rotation axis in the form of a rotationcenter O. Note that in this example the rotation center is locatedwithin the hinge 220 itself, but the rotation center O might lie outsidethe hinge for example in the case of implementation of the hinges as acurved blade spring. The repetition lever 240 abuts on the hammer shankroller 315; note that the contact surface of the lever 240 that contactsthe roller 315 is essentially flat in this embodiment, and provided withan opening to let the jack 2502 through. Note that the invention is notlimited to a flat contact surface; the contact surface can beimplemented in any suitable geometry, for example curved, and can beprovided with a surface structure like ridges, dimples and the like. Thehammer shank roller 315 and the repetition lever 240 contact each otherforming a line (when the materials of the roller 315 and the lever 240are relatively inelastic) or a contact area (when the materials of theroller 315 and the lever 240 are relatively elastic). In FIG. 4 a linecontact is assumed, and the side view of this line is shown as a pointQ. On the repetition lever 240, loads of the hammer shank 310 and thehammer 320 are imposed via the hammer shank roller 315. FIG. 4 depicts aforce received from the hammer shank roller 315 at this time as Fq.Also, the repetition lever 240 makes contact with the first arm 2802 ofthe torsion coil spring 280 at the spring contact portion 242. Thisspring contact portion 242 is taken as R. The point R is a point ofaction of the torsion coil spring 280, and the repetition lever 240receives a force in a pushing-up direction by an elastic force of thetorsion coil spring 280. FIG. 4 depicts this force as Fr.

In FIG. 4, a tangent line T is shown. This line T lies in a tangentplane T′ that is tangent to the surface of the roller 315 and includesthe line of contact between the roller 315 and the lever 240. Inaddition, the line T is perpendicular to the center line of the roller315. In case of a contact between the roller 315 and the lever 240 thatform a contact area, the tangent plane T′ lies in the plane of thecontact area. In this embodiment of the invention, the repetition leverhinge 220 is formed as an essentially flat blade spring and has an axisof rotation O′ (indicated by point O in the side view of FIG. 4) that isparallel to the center axis of the roller 315. In side view, the hinge220 is positioned under an angle θf with respect to the tangent line T.Note that this in turn means that the orientation plane of the hinge 220and the tangent plane T′ also intersect under an angle of θf. In thisembodiment, the angle of θf is larger than 90 degrees. Alternatively,the angle θf can also be smaller than 90 degrees. In particular, thehinge 220 can be positioned at any angle other than 0 degree (i.e.parallel).

Therefore, the repetition lever 240 has a contact surface and thecontact surface contacts the hammer shank roller to be able to rotatethe hammer, and the repetition lever hinge 220 is mounted to the supportin a mounting direction (defined in this embodiment by the mountingplane or orientation plane of the hinge as described before) thatcrosses (in this example under an angle θf that is non zero) with atangent-line direction of a line tangent T (as described above) to thehammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shank roller andthe contact surface.

The repetition lever hinge 220 is provided as being tilted in a crossingdirection with respect to a tangent line T of the point Q where thehammer shank roller 315 makes contact with the repetition lever 240. InFIG. 4, for convenience, a direction parallel to the tangent line T istaken as an X direction, and a direction orthogonal thereto is taken asa Y direction. The force (Fq) the repetition lever 240 receives from thehammer shank roller 315 acts in a direction of the normal of the tangentline T, if friction forces are ignored. That is, the force Fq acts onthe repetition lever 240 at the point Q in the Y direction. Here,consider the case in which the elastic force (Fr) of the torsion coilspring 280 acts at the point R (point of action) in a directionorthogonal to the tangent line T (in the case of acting in the Ydirection). In this case, Fq and Fr are only in the Y direction and, tomatch this, the repetition lever hinge 220 is also preferably tilted inthe Y direction, that is, the direction orthogonal to the tangent lineT. Note that in FIG. 4, θf is an angle formed by the tangent line T andthe repetition lever hinge 220, θq is an angle formed by the tangentline T and Fq, and θr is an angle formed by the tangent line T and theforce Fr.

If the repetition lever 240 where to be implemented such that the pointsO, R, and Q coincide with each other on a straight line (note that thisimplementation is not shown in the figures), the following equationholds due to the balance of rotation centering at the point O.Fq·OQ=Fr·sin θr·OR  (1)

Here, when OR/OQ=r, Fq is as shown in equation (2).Fq=r·Fr·sin θr  (2)

Here, when a resultant force F of Fr and Fq is represented by beingdivided into Fr and Fq,Fx=−Fr·cos θr  (3)Fy=Fr·sin θr−Fq=Fr(1−r)sin θr  (4)

Therefore, a rotation angle θf of the resultant force F from an x axisisθf=tan⁻¹(Fx/Fy)=tan⁻¹((1−r)sin θr/cos θr).

For example, θf=approximately 74° is obtained when r=0.5 and θr=30°, andθf=approximately 131° is obtained when r=0.5 and θr=120°.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the repetition lever hinge 220 is preferably tilted withrespect to the direction of the tangent line of the point of contactwhere the hammer shank roller 315 makes contact with the repetitionlever 240. For example, in one preferred mode, the repetition leverhinge 220 is tilted in a range of ±20 degrees in a direction parallel toa direction of a force of the hammer shank roller 315 acting on therepetition lever 240. In other words, in one preferred mode, in therepetition lever hinge 220, a portion coupled to the repetition lever240 is tilted to a side of the rotation center O of the support 210 fromone end on a support 210 side. In this case, the repetition lever hinge220 may be tilted to a depth side of the support. With this structure,in a rest state (a state in which the key is not operated), therepetition lever hinge 220 has a force acting in a direction identicalto a standing direction, and is stably held by the support 210. Also,with the force the repetition lever 240 receives from the hammer shankroller 315 and the force received from the torsion coil spring 280acting in a direction of being cancelled out, it is possible to preventan excessive force from acting on the repetition lever hinge 220.

The repetition lever hinge 220 may be provided as a member withflexibility and be linked to the repetition lever 240, as depicted inFIG. 2. For example, the repetition lever 240 and the repetition leverhinge 220 may be integrally molded. For example, the repetition leverand the repetition lever hinge can include a structure made of resin.With this form, the number of components of the support assembly can bereduced.

1-3. Operation of Support Assembly 20

Next, description is made to movement of the support assembly 20 whenthe key 110 in a state of being at the rest position (FIG. 1) is presseddown to the end position.

FIG. 5 is a side view for describing movement of the support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention. When the key 110 is presseddown to the end position, the capstan screw 120 pushes up the supportheel 212 to rotate the support 210, with the axis of the through hole2109 taken as a rotation center. When the support 210 rotates to moveupward, the large jack 2502 pushes up the hammer roller 315 to cause thehammer shank 310 to collide with the hammer stopper 410. Note that thiscollision corresponds to string hammering by a hammer in a conventionalgrand piano.

Immediately before this collision, while upward movement of the smalljack 2504 is regulated by the regulating button 360, the support 210(jack support portion 2105) further ascends. Therefore, the large jack2502 rotates so as to go off from the hammer roller 315. Here, by theregulating button 360, upward movement of the coupling portion 2443 isalso regulated. In this example, the regulating button 360 has also afunction of a repetition regulating screw in the action mechanism in aconventional grand piano.

This regulates upward movement of the repetition lever 240, whichrotates so as to approach the support 210. With these operations, adouble escapement mechanism is achieved. FIG. 5 is a drawing depictingthis state. Note that when the key 110 is being returned to the restposition, the hammer roller 315 is supported by the repetition lever240, and the large jack 2502 is returned below the hammer roller 315.

As such, since double escapement is achieved in a structure simplercompared with the support assembly for use in a conventional grandpiano, manufacturing cost can be slimed down while decreasing aninfluence on a touch feeling.

Also, since the jack 250 and the extension 244 slidably contact eachother, the jack 250 functions also as a guide portion of the repetitionlever 240 coupled to the extension 244. Therefore, even if yawing(lateral shift) and rolling (twisting) of the repetition lever 240 tendto occur due to the connection of the repetition lever 240 to therepetition lever hinge 220, the occurrence of these phenomena can bedecreased. That is, it is possible to easily achieve rotation of therepetition lever 240 along a plane on which the jack 250 rotates.

Since the jack 250 rotates with respect to the support 210, therepetition lever 240 can also be rotated indirectly along a plane onwhich the support 210 rotates. In this manner, the member functioning asa guide portion (in this example, the jack 250) can be any member aslong as it moves along the plane on which the support 210 rotates. Here,a structure of guiding the jack 250 may be disposed to the support 210so that the jack 250 rotates along the plane on which the support 210rotates. With this, it is possible to more enhance accuracy of rotatingthe repetition lever 240 via the jack 250 along the plane on which thesupport 210 rotates.

1-4. Sound Emission Mechanism of Keyboard Apparatus 1

As described above, the keyboard apparatus 1 is an example ofapplication to an electronic piano. The operation of the key 110 ismeasured by the sensor 510, and a sound in accordance with themeasurement result is outputted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting the structure of a sound emissionmechanism of the keyboard apparatus according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. A sound emission mechanism 50 of the keyboardapparatus 1 includes the sensors 510 (sensors 510-1, 510-2, . . . 510-88corresponding to the eighty-eight keys 110), a signal converting unit550, a sound source unit 560, and an output unit 570. The signalconverting unit 550 obtains an electric signal outputted from the sensor510, and generates and outputs an operation signal in accordance with anoperating state in each key 110. In this example, the operation signalis a MIDI-format signal. Therefore, in accordance with the timing whenthe hammer shank 310 collides with the hammer stopper 410 bykey-pressing operation, the signal converting unit 550 outputs Note ON.Here, a key number indicating which of the eighty-eight keys 110 hasbeen operated and velocity corresponding to a speed immediately beforethe collision are also outputted in association with Note ON. On theother hand, when key-releasing operation is performed, in accordancewith the timing when string vibrations are stopped by a dumper in thecase of a grand piano, the signal converting unit 550 outputs the keynumber and Note OFF in association with each other. To the signalconverting unit 550, a signal corresponding to another operation such asone on a pedal may be inputted and reflected to the operation signal.The sound source unit 560 generates a sound signal based on theoperation signal outputted from the signal converting unit 550. Theoutput unit 570 is a loudspeaker or terminal which outputs the soundsignal generated by the sound source unit 560.

Second Embodiment 2-1. Structure of Keyboard Apparatus 2

A keyboard apparatus 2 in a second embodiment of the present inventionis an example in which, as with the keyboard apparatus 1 of oneembodiment, an example of the support assembly according to secondembodiment of the present invention is applied to an electronic piano.Different points between the keyboard apparatus 2 in the secondembodiment and the keyboard apparatus 1 in one embodiment are thestructure of the support assembly and a portion which supports thesupport assembly. Also, while the regulating button 360 has a functionof a repetition regulating screw in one embodiment, a repetitionregulating screw is separately disposed in the second embodiment. In thefollowing description, description is made mainly on these differentpoints, and description of common portions is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a side view depicting the structure of the keyboard apparatusin the second embodiment of the present invention. A support assembly 60is fixed to a support rail 960. The support rail 960 is supported by abracket 900. The support assembly 20 according to the first embodimentis rotatably supported with the shaft supported by the support flange290 penetrating through the through hole 2109. On the other hand, whilethe support assembly 60 is similar in being rotatably supported by thesupport rail 960, but its support method is different as will bedescribed further below. A repetition regulating screw 346 regulatesupward (hammer shank 310 side) rotation of the support assembly 60.

2-2. Structure of Support Assembly 60

FIG. 8 is a side view depicting the structure of the support assemblyaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention. The supportassembly 60 includes a support 610, a repetition lever 640, a jack 650,an operation regulating portion 660, and coil springs 682 and 684. Therepetition lever 640 is rotatably connected to the support 610 via arepetition lever hinge 620. In this example, the support 610 and therepetition lever hinge 620 are fixed by a fixture 674 via a fixingportion 648 coupled to the repetition lever hinge 620. The supportassembly 60, except the coil springs 682 and 684, cushioning materialsor the like (such as nonwoven fabric or elastic body) provided at aportion which collides with another member, and fixtures is a resin-madestructure manufactured by injection molding or the like.

The support 610 is fixed to the support rail 960 by a fixing portion632. Here, with the presence of the repetition lever hinge 620 betweenthe support 610 and the fixing portion 632, the support 610 is rotatablysupported with respect to the support rail 960. The support 610 has ajack support portion 6105 formed thereto. The support 610 includes,between a repetition lever hinge 634 and a jack support portion 6105, asupport heel 612 projecting downward and a base 638 projecting upward.The repetition lever hinge 620 can be implemented in a similar way andin all variants as described for the repetition lever hinge 220. Inparticular, the hinge 620 has similarly to hinge 220 a mountingdirection or orientation under which the hinge 620 has been connected tothe support.

The base 638 is connected to a repetition lever 640 side of the support610. The coil spring 682 is disposed between the base 638 and therepetition lever 640. The coil spring 682 is a compression spring whichprovides a rotational force to the repetition lever 640 in a directionin which the base 638 and the repetition lever 640 go away from eachother.

The repetition lever 640 has an extension 644 connected on a sideopposite to the repetition lever hinge 620 with respect to a large jack6502. The extension 644 has slits 6442 and 6444.

The jack 650 includes the large jack 6502 and a small jack 6504. Thejack 650 is rotatably connected with respect to the support 610 at thejack support portion 6105. A coil spring 684 is disposed between thelarge jack 6502 and the support 610. The coil spring 684 is a tensionspring which provides a rotational force to the jack 650 so that thelarge jack 6502 approaches the base 638. With the large jack 6502 makingcontact with the base 638, the rotation range of the jack 650 by thecoil spring 680 is regulated.

The operation regulating portion 660 is coupled above (repetition lever640 sides) from a jack support portion 6105 side of the support 610. Theoperation regulating portion 660 includes a support portion 662projecting upward from the support 610, a stopper 664, and a guide 666.The stopper portion 664 and the guide portion 666 project from thesupport portion 662 to a player's front side. The stopper 664 penetratesthrough the slit 6442 provided to the extension 644. The guide 666penetrates through the slit 6444 provided to the extension 644.

In FIG. 8, a tangent line T is shown. This line T lies in a tangentplane T′ that is tangent to the surface of the roller 315 and includesthe line of contact between the roller 315 and the lever 640. Inaddition, the line T is perpendicular to the center line of the roller315. In case of a contact between the roller 315 and the lever 640 thatform a contact area, the tangent plane T′ lies in the plane of thecontact area. In this embodiment of the invention, the repetition leverhinge 620 is formed as an essentially flat blade spring and has an axisof rotation O′ (indicated by point O in the side view of FIG. 8) that isparallel to the center axis of the roller 315. In side view, the hinge620 is positioned under an angle θf with respect to the tangent line T.Note that this in turn means that the orientation plane of the hinge 620and the tangent plane T′ also intersect under an angle of θf. In thisembodiment, the angle of θf is larger than 90 degrees. Alternatively,the angle θf can also be smaller than 90 degrees. In particular, thehinge 620 can be positioned at any angle other than 0 degree (i.e.parallel).

Also in the present embodiment, as with the first embodiment, therepetition lever hinge 620 is tilted in a crossing direction withrespect to the tangent line T at a point of contact area P where thehammer shank roller 315 makes contact with the repetition lever 640.Also in the support assembly 60, a rotation center O of the repetitionlever 640, the point of contact P where the hammer shank roller 315makes contact with the repetition lever 640, and a point of action R ofthe coil spring 682 with respect to the repetition lever 640 areassumed, a relation similar to that described in the first embodimentwith reference to FIG. 4 can be derived.

That is, also in the support assembly 60 according to the secondembodiment, with the repetition lever hinge 620 provided in a crossingdirection with respect to the tangent line of the point P where therepetition lever hinge 620 makes contact with the hammer shank roller315, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from acting on therepetition lever hinge 620.

2-3. Operation of Support Assembly 60

Description is made to movement of the support assembly 60 when the key110 in a state of being at the rest position (FIG. 7) is pressed down tothe end position.

FIG. 9 is a side view for describing movement of the support assembly inone embodiment of the present invention. When the key 110 is presseddown to the end position, the capstan screw 120 pushes up the supportheel 612 to rotate the support 610. When the support 610 rotates to moveupward, the large jack 6502 pushes up the hammer shank roller 315 tocause the hammer shank 310 to collide with the hammer stopper 410.

Immediately before this collision, while upward movement of the smalljack 6504 is regulated by the regulating button 360, the support 610(jack support portion 6105) further ascends. Therefore, the large jack2502 rotates so as to go off from the hammer shank roller 315. Here, bythe repetition regulating screw 346, upward movement of the repetitionlever 640 is also regulated.

With this, upward movement is regulated, causing the repetition lever640 to rotate so as to approach the support 610. With these operations,a double escapement mechanism is achieved. FIG. 9 depicts this state.Note that as the key 110 is returned to the rest position, the hammershank roller 315 is supported by the repetition lever 640, and the largejack 6502 is returned below the hammer shank roller 315.

Also with this support assembly 60, effects similar to those of thesupport assembly 20 can be obtained. That is, since double escapement isachieved in a structure simpler compared with the support assembly foruse in a conventional grand piano, manufacturing cost can be slimed downwhile decreasing an influence on a touch feeling.

Also, since the guide 666 and the extension 644 slidably contact eachother, the guide 666 functions also as a guide portion of the repetitionlever 640 coupled to the extension 644. Therefore, even if yawing(lateral shift) and rolling (twisting) of the repetition lever 640 tendto occur due to the connection of the repetition lever 640 to therepetition lever hinge 620, the occurrence of these phenomena can bedecreased. That is, it is possible to easily achieve rotation of therepetition lever 640 along a plane on which the support 610 rotates.

As described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment,according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible toreduce manufacturing cost of a support assembly while decreasing achange in touch feeling at the time of key operation, compared with akeyboard apparatus of an acoustic piano. Also, it is possible to improvestructural stability of the support assembly while simplifying thestructure of the support assembly.

In the above-described embodiment, an electronic piano is described asan example of a keyboard apparatus to which a support assembly isapplied. However, one embodiment of the present invention is notrestricted to this, and the support assembly disclosed in the aboveembodiments can also be applied to a grand piano (acoustic piano) and akeyboard apparatus with an action mechanism similar to this.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support assembly comprising: a supportrotatably disposed with respect to a frame; a repetition lever hingemounted to the support; and a repetition lever supported by therepetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to thesupport, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and thecontact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammershank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mountedto the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-linedirection of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contactbetween the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.
 2. The supportassembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting direction of therepetition lever hinge is defined by a plane and the tangent-linedirection is defined by a plane.
 3. The support assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the repetition lever hinge is oriented in a directionparallel to a direction of a force of the hammer shank roller acting onthe repetition lever.
 4. The support assembly according to claim 1,wherein a coupling portion of the repetition lever hinge coupled to therepetition lever is tilted to a rotation center side of the support fromone end on the support side.
 5. The support assembly according to claim1, wherein the repetition lever hinge is tilted with respect to thedirection of the tangent line of the line of contact where the hammershank roller makes contact with the repetition lever.
 6. The supportassembly according to claim 1, wherein the repetition lever and therepetition lever hinge are integrally formed.
 7. The support assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the repetition lever and the repetitionlever hinge includes a resin-made structure.
 8. A keyboard apparatuscomprising: a plurality of support assemblies; and keys disposedcorrespondingly to respective support assemblies among the plurality ofsupport assemblies; wherein each of the support assemblies includes: asupport rotatably disposed with respect to a frame; a repetition leverhinge mounted to the support; and a repetition lever supported by therepetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to thesupport, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and thecontact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammershank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mountedto the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-linedirection of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contactbetween the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.
 9. The keyboardapparatus according to claim 8, comprising: a sound output unit foroutputting a sound signal generated in accordance with key pressing of akey among the keys.
 10. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 8,comprising: a string for generating a sound by striking a hammer inaccordance with key pressing of a key among the keys.
 11. The keyboardapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the repetition lever hinge isoriented in a direction parallel to a direction of a force of the hammershank roller acting on the repetition lever.
 12. The keyboard apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein a coupling portion of the repetition leverhinge coupled to the repetition lever is oriented to a rotation centerside of the support from one end on the support side.
 13. The keyboardapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the repetition lever hinge istilted with respect to the direction of the tangent line of the point ofcontact where the hammer shank roller makes contact with the repetitionlever.
 14. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 8, wherein therepetition lever and the repetition lever hinge are integrally formed.15. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the repetitionlever and the repetition lever hinge include a resin-made structure. 16.The support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: anelastic body which provides a rotational force to the repetition lever;an elastic body support portion supporting the elastic body; and acontact portion protruding from the repetition lever and contacting withthe elastic body, wherein an elastic force of the elastic body acts atthe contact portion in a direction orthogonal to the tangent line. 17.The support assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a jackrotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein an elastic forceof the elastic body acts on the jack.
 18. The support assembly accordingto claim 17, wherein the repetition lever includes two plate-shapedmembers for interposition from sides of both side surfaces of the jack.19. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the soundoutput unit comprises: a loudspeaker for outputting the sound signalgenerated in accordance with key pressing of a key among the keys. 20.The keyboard apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sound outputunit comprises: a terminal for outputting the sound signal generated inaccordance with key pressing of a key among the keys.
 21. The supportassembly according to claim 16, wherein the elastic body is a coilspring.